Improvement in bearings of locomotive-axles



UNITEDV STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN I". LAIRD, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN BEARINGS OF LOCOMOTlVE-AXLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0- 53,009, dated March 6, 1866.

` Toall whom it may concern.-

Beit knownthat I, JOHN P. LAIRD, of Altoona, Blair county, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Locomotives 5 and I 'do hereby (leclerc the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon.

My invention consists in the application to alocomotive of a drivin g-axle adapted to boxes which can slide laterally in the frame of the locomotive, the said` axle and boxes being combined with a truck-frame having an axle and wheels, all substantially as hereinafter set forth. v

The object of my invention is to obtain increased traction without adding to the length of the locomotive. In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ot' this speciiication, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section ot' part ot a locomotive engine with my, improvement; Fig. 2, a plan view; Fig. 3, a pla-n view of the truck-frame, and Fig. 4 a transverse section on the line 1 2, Fig. 1.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

A A represent the 'two side frames of the locomotive, and to each frame are adapted the usual axle-boxes .B and B for the axles I) and D', and the axle-box E for receiving the axle F, the three axles being provided with the driving-Wheels G, which are coupled together, 'i what are known as outside cylinders being used `in connection withimy improvements in the present instance.

The axle-boxes B and B are ot' the usual construction, being so fitted to the guides a a as to slide vertically therein without having l any lateral movement, and the journals having the ordinary limited end play in the boxes.` The boxes E, however, while arranged to t h snugly in the guides in one direction, are so constructed that they can have a lateral movement of from one to two and a half inches, the journals of the axles F having no end playin the said boxes. f

' The opposite boxes EE are connected together in the present instance by a cross-bar, II, to which a projection, i, from the truckframe I is jointed by a pin, c, the truck-frame beingA arranged to turn on a king-bolt,.J, 'se-A cured to a permanent part of the loc'omotive.

This truck-frame has twoprojecting plates, m I

The truck-frame I rests on two springs, a,

each being situatcdbetwecn and connected to two arms, j', which rest on one of the axleboxes K, the opposite endet' the two arms being connected by links h to one end ofa spring, N, he opposite end of whichis connected by links q to one of the side frames, a bar, t, se;

`cured to the spring, bearing on one ot' 4the axleboxes E.

In locomotives of the class to4 which my invention relates it has been usual to couple the two axles l) and D', four driving-wheels only being thus employed. As a great portion of the weight ot' the boiler was sustained by the truck in these engines, their traction was limited; hence it has been connnon to increase 'thc length of the engine in order to accommodate another pair ot' driving-wheels, making six in all, which sustained the greater portion ot' the weight of the boiler, the plan consequentlyresulting in increased traction; but this result could only be attainedby making the locomotive of such a length that with all the advantages presented by the truck curves in the road could not be traversed at a high rate of speed with safety.

Myimprovementshavebeen'devisedwiththe View of obtaining the desired increase of trac tion Without the necessity ot lengthening the engine for the accommodation ot an additional 'pair o'f driving-Wheels.

When a locomotive constructed according to my improvement traverses a curve 'in the road there must of necessity be an end movement of the axle F, and this movement is iinparted through the truck-frame I to the axle L in fact the sliding axle F and its wheels, combined with the truck-frame I, axle L, and its wheels, perform precisely the same duty asan ordinary truck, and as the wheels of this sliding axle F are coupled to those of the axles D and D it WillA be evident that the desired increase of'traction is A obtained without the necessity o resorting to the -nsual plan of lengthening the engine for the accommodation of an dditio'nel pair of driving-wheels.

- I 'claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The application to alocomotive, substan- .tiallv Yin the `,niiein-1ex: .fieserib ei,o.f. a hiringexle adzipteil to boxes which can slide litterally inthe frame of the locomotive, for the purpose specified.

2. The combination'of the said drivingexle and its sliding boxes with the truck-frame I and its axle L and Wheels M, the whole being arranged and operating substa-ntiallly as and for the purpose herein set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two sub;

scribing witnesses.

. JNO. P.' LAIRD.4

Witnesses Jnssn .y S. WAL'roN, v JOHN W. HUMns. 

